Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas K. McBride
  • Patent number: 6045115
    Abstract: The present invention uses a flow restrictor to provide a capillary size opening that minimizes any discharge of toxic gases from compressed gas cylinders in the unlikely event of the control valve or regulator failure. The use of this arrangement to provide a flow restriction in combination with a regulator in the form of a dispensing check valve provides a virtually fail safe system for preventing hazardous discharge of fluid from a pressurized cylinder or tank. A capillary tube or other structure can provide capillary size openings that minimizes any discharge of gas in the unlikely event of a failure of the regulator. Location of the inlet to the capillary tube at the midpoint of the cylinder can also prevent the discharge of liquid from the cylinder if the control valve system fails. Limiting the accidental discharge of fluid from the cylinder to gas phase fluids greatly reduces the uncontrolled mass flow rate at which fluid can escape from the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas B Martin, Jr., David A. Le Febre
  • Patent number: 6043402
    Abstract: Reduction of the amount of 1,1-diphenylethane formed in the production of ethylbenzene by alkylation of benzene with ethylene and by transalkylation of benzene with polyethylbenzenes can be effected by reacting at a low concentration of ethylene. This invention allows operation at a low molar ratio of phenyl groups per ethyl group and leads to a product containing less than 1.0 wt-% 1,1-diphenylethane relative to ethylbenzene. This invention is applicable to processes for the production of a wide variety of other commercially important alkylated aromatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Gregory J. Gajda
  • Patent number: 6042717
    Abstract: An FCC feed injection arrangement injects feed transversely from the sides of a restricted opening into a stream of FCC catalyst to provide good feed and catalyst contacting in an arrangement that simplifies external pipe configurations and maintenance of the feed injection system. The invention forms a venturi or restricted opening by forming a generally square opening between two parallel extended chords on opposite sides of the riser. A venturi area may be built out of refractory lining or other abrasion resistant structures. The invention may use horizontally extended pipes that are tangentially positioned apart from each other across from the restricted opening to provide a simple construction for the feed injection arrangement. The pipes are easily inserted and withdrawn from the riser to permit easy maintenance of the nozzles in the highly erosive environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: William H. Radcliffe, Brian W. Hedrick
  • Patent number: 6042806
    Abstract: Applicant has synthesized a family of novel non-pillared metal oxide compositions which have a triple layered perovskite structure and a surface area of at least 30 m.sup.2 /g. These compositions are described by the empirical formulaAB.sub.2 M.sub.3 O.sub.10-xwhere A is a monovalent exchangeable cation such as cesium, B is a divalent or trivalent cation such as strontium or lanthanum and M is a +2, +3, +4 or a +5 valent metal such as niobium, titanium, aluminum or copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LOC
    Inventor: Robert L. Bedard
  • Patent number: 6043895
    Abstract: A probe for fiber optic spectroscopy, having a radiation transparent window for the emission of radiation and an optical fiber that extends through the interior of a hollow housing, surrounds the fiber with a cushioning sleeve to provide an optical cable that preserves optical fiber connections and dampen vibration of the optical cable. The sleeve provides a structure around the optical fiber that is more compressible than the optical fiber and has a significantly greater mass than the optical fiber. Excess cable length may be provided along its path through the housing to impinge the cable against the interior walls of the housing and thereby dampen vibration by providing additional node points through contact of the sleeve with the housing wall. Helical twisting of the cable along its path through the housing further stabilizes the shape of the fiber optic cable within the housing and maintains a regular spacing of contact points with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Masterson, Calvin E. Reynolds, Terry R. Todd
  • Patent number: 6039863
    Abstract: A particulate catalyst is regenerated by upward transport in a combustor having an extended length and separated from combustion gases with a single stage of cyclones. The extended length combustor ends with a termination device arranged to tangentially discharge particulate catalyst and gases into an open disengaging vessel and to achieve a high separation efficiency. Initial high separation efficiency provided by the termination device permits a single downstream stage of cyclones to reduce particulate emissions to acceptable levels. The combination of the separation device and the extended combustor can accommodate changes in particulate densities in the extended combustor without inducing cyclone overload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paolo Palmas
  • Patent number: 6036845
    Abstract: A catalytic reforming process comprises a prereactor which provides an intermediate stream to a riser reactor with multiple catalyst injection points to obtain high aromatics yields from a naphtha feedstock. Product from the riser reactor typically is discharged into a fluidized-bed reforming reactor, in which the reforming reaction is completed and catalyst is separated from hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons from the reactor are separated to recover an aromatized product. Catalyst is regenerated to remove coke and reduced for reuse in the reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory A. Funk, Christopher D. Gosling, Paula L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 6034018
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for decreasing the emissions of chlorine-containing species from a moving bed process for regenerating spent catalyst particles with a recycle gas stream. A recycle gas stream contacts spent catalyst particles at regeneration conditions, thereby producing a flue gas stream. The flue gas stream which contains chlorine-containing species contacts spent catalyst particles at sorption conditions. The spent catalyst particles sorb the chlorine-containing species from the flue gas stream, thereby producing the recycle gas stream. A portion of the recycle gas stream is vented from the process. This method captures and returns to the process the chlorine-containing species that would be lost from the process and that would need to be replaced by the injection of make-up chlorine-containing species. This method results in a significant savings in capital and operating costs of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Sechrist, Delmar W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6025533
    Abstract: This process for the production of heavy oligomers by a combination of dehydrogenation and oligomerization uses a bed of saturation catalyst in a debutanizer to simplify the saturation and recycle of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons to the dehydrogenation zone. The catalytic distillation zone is located in the top of the debutanizer column and may offer further efficiency improvements to the process when used in series with a bed of alkylation or oligomerization catalyst in the distillation zone. The bed of alkylation or oligomerization catalyst reduces the quantity of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons recycled to the dehydrogenation zone by oligomerizing unconverted C.sub.4 olefins in the distillation column. Conversion of C.sub.4 olefins in the distillation column facilitates the operation of the oligomerization zone at lower conversion conditions that favor production of high octane products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bipin V. Vora, Harold U. Hammershaimb
  • Patent number: 6020533
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion processes using a new family of crystalline manganese phosphate compositions is disclosed. These compositions have an extended network; which network can be a one-, two-, or three-dimensional network. The composition has an empirical formula of:(A.sup.a+).sub.v (Mn.sup.b+)(M.sup.c+).sub.x P.sub.y O.sub.zwhere A is a templating agent such as an alkali metal, M is a metal such as Al, Fe.sup.3+ and "b" is the average manganese oxidation state and varies from greater than 3.0 to about 4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Lewis, Paula L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 6020281
    Abstract: Difluoromethane (R-32) is of current interest as a partial replacement for chlorodifluoromethane (R-22) refrigerant heretofore widely used in vapor compression refrigeration systems. R-32 has, however, proved to be more reactive than is desirable with the zeolite A adsorbent-desiccant compositions used in such systems to prevent corrosion and freeze-up problems. The potassium cation form of a zeolite A molecular sieve--with at least 60 per cent of the sodium cations replaced with potassium ions, agglomerated with a clay binder and pore-reduced to essentially exclude the adsorption of R-32, and having essentially no reactivity with difluoromethane--has been found to be an effective desiccant for refrigerants comprising difluoromethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: MaryEllen Lavin, Alan P. Cohen, Jack E. Hurst
  • Patent number: 6015932
    Abstract: A reactivation process is disclosed for a catalyst formulated to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The process utilizes a solid strong-acid catalyst comprising an anion-modified metal oxide, preferably comprising a sulfated support of an oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, and a platinum-group metal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Stanley J. Frey
  • Patent number: 6015933
    Abstract: A process to remove polymeric by-products from the product of an acetylene selective hydrogenation reactor has been developed. The product is generated by introducing hydrogen and a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing largely butadiene and some acetylenes to a reactor containing a catalyst effective for the selective hydrogenation of acetylenes. The product contains at least hydrogen, butadiene, and polymeric by-products. The pressure of the product is reduced and the product cooled. The cooled product is conducted to a low pressure flash drum to produce a hydrogen enriched stream and a butadiene and polymeric by-product-enriched stream. The hydrogen-enriched stream is removed. The butadiene and polymeric by-product is passed to a knockout drum to produce a stream enriched in butadiene and polymeric by-products having less than about 12 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in polymeric by-products having about 12 or more carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Bipin V. Vora
  • Patent number: 6013186
    Abstract: Silicalite with increased hydrophobicity may be made by steaming silicalite in an atmosphere of at least 10% water vapor at temperatures of 650-850.degree. C. When used as monodisperse spheres with a diameter in the range of 1-20 microns such ultrahydrophobic silicalite is an excellent adsorbent for chromatographic separation of polar materials, including fatty acids, at both the analytical level and preparative level using simulated moving bed techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lyle Patton, Beth Mc Culloch, Peter K. Nickl
  • Patent number: 6013173
    Abstract: A novel catalyst and the use thereof in a reforming process is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a refractory inorganic oxide, platinum-group metal, Group IVA(IUPAC 14) metal, indium and lanthanide-series metal. Utilization of this catalyst in the conversion of hydrocarbonsaromatics product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Paula L. Bogdan
  • Patent number: 6010618
    Abstract: An FCC process provides ultrashort catalyst and feed contacting in an FCC riser by recovering a short contact product stream in an intermediate section of the riser. The remainder of the catalyst and gas mixture continues through the riser along a continuous flow path for further for controlled cracking of the heavier adsorbed hydrocarbons and entrained hydrocarbons. Residual catalyst separated from the recovery of the short contact product stream returns to the upstream end of the riser for recycle. The section of the riser downstream of the short contact product recovery may receive additional feed to perform secondary cracking reactions. The riser arrangement greatly simplifies methods for performing ultra short FCC feed and catalyst contacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: David A. Lomas
  • Patent number: 6010620
    Abstract: An arrangement for the controlled production of an essentially linear array of hydrocarbon feed injection jets maintains stable and reliable jets by passing individual piping for each jet through a support shroud that is located in a contacting vessel. Controlled atomization is provided by independently injecting a uniform quantity of gas medium into each of the plurality of uniformly created feed injection streams upstream of a discharge nozzle that separately discharges each mixed stream of hydrocarbons and gas medium into a stream of catalyst particles at or about the inner end of the support shroud. The feed injection jets are suitable for positioning in an inner location of large contacting vessel. Uniformity of distribution is obtained by dividing the hydrocarbons streams from an oil header into an individual oil conduit for each spray injection nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Daniel N. Myers, Aziz A. Sattar
  • Patent number: 6008427
    Abstract: A method providing enhanced heat integration in isomerization processes having an isomerization reactor operating at a temperature less than about 232.degree. C. (450.degree. F.) and an adsorption zone operating at a temperature greater than about 260.degree. C. (500.degree. F.) has been developed. The method begins with flowing a fresh feed stream containing normal and non-normal hydrocarbons to either the isomerization reactor or the adsorption zone. A variable mass flow desorption effluent containing at least normal hydrocarbons is flowed to the isomerization reactor to form a reactor effluent containing normal hydrocarbons and isomerized non-normal hydrocarbons. The reactor effluent is cooled and separated into an adsorber feed stream and a hydrogen purge gas which are each conducted to an adsorption zone. In the adsorption zone, the normal hydrocarbons are adsorbed and the non-normal hydrocarbons are withdrawn and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lynn H. Rice
  • Patent number: 6008422
    Abstract: A process for producing alkylaromatics using a multibed alkylation reaction zone is disclosed. The alkylation reaction zone effluent is divided into three portions, the first being recirculated to the inlet of the reaction zone, the second being cooled and recirculated to one or more other beds in the reaction zone, and the third being passed to a product recovery zone where the alkylaromatic is recovered. This process insures that all of the catalyst beds operate in an optimum temperature range. This in turn insures that byproduct formation is minimized and catalyst life is maximized. Ethylbenzene and cumene may be produced by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Russell C. Schulz, Perry K. Ho
  • Patent number: 6008424
    Abstract: A process for the transalkylation of benzene, toluene and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing nine and ten carbon atoms form alkylaromatic hydrocarbons containing eight carbon atoms has been developed. The fixed bed reaction and adsorption zone contains a transalkylation catalyst and an adsorbent effective to selectively adsorb C.sub.9 and C.sub.10 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon reactants relative to the C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon products. Hydrogen and a desorbent are introduced to a first portion of the zone and an effluent containing at least one C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from a second portion of the zone. After a period of time, the desorbent is redirected to the second portion of the zone and concurrently the effluent containing at least one C.sub.8 alkylaromatic hydrocarbon product is withdrawn from the first portion of the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Herman A. Zinnen, Maureen L. Bricker, Charles P. McGonegal